Youth hold key for Africa Cup, Starlets coach Odemba says
Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba.
What you need to know:
- Kenya finish in second-place at the just concluded 2025 Cecafa Senior Women’s Championship in Dar es Salaam.
- Four youngsters from the Football Kenya Federation Women’s Premier League (FKF-WPL) stood out for the team.
Harambee Starlets coach Beldine Odemba believes that young, driven players can play a pivotal role in Kenya's qualification for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), as they are hungry for success.
Coach Odemba’s comments follow Kenya’s s second-place finish at the 2025 Cecafa Senior Women’s Championship in Dar es Salaam, where they secured nine points from three matches to finish three points behind champions Tanzania.
“Giving young players a chance to play is a good thing for the national team’s future, and qualification for the 2026 Wafcon and World Cup,” Odemba who is Caf ‘A’ License holder, said.
Starlets beat Burundi 3-0, Uganda 4-0, and South Sudan 4-0 but fell 1-0 to Tanzania in the final match. Four youngsters from the Football Kenya Federation Women’s Premier League (FKF-WPL) stood out for the team, earning them opportunities alongside experienced national team players.
Midfielders Medina Abubakar (Kibera Soccer Women) and Swaum Nanjala (Vihiga Queens) made their national team debut in the tournament, while striker Faith Mboya (Kibera Soccer Women), the FKF-WPL's second-highest scorer with 15 goals in the just concluded season, scored twice in her second appearance for the Starlets.
Defender Elizabeth Ochaka (Kenya Police Bullets), who recently graduated from the Under-17 Junior Starlets after representing Kenya at the 2024 Fifa Women's World Cup, also scored.
Goalkeeper Vivian Shiyonzo (Kibera) travelled with the team to Dar es Salaam but was not included in the final squad, making her second call-up for the national assignment.
“The young players given opportunities have demonstrated their potential and, with proper training, can achieve great things,” said Odemba, who also doubles up as Kenya Police Bullets' head coach.
Assistant captain Corazone Aquino and winger Elizabeth Wambui, veteran players for Simba Queens of the Tanzania Women's Premier League, were previously named to the provisional squad but did not report to camp.
Aquino stated on social media that her absence was a personal decision.
“It's important for me to clarify that I have never missed a call-up for my beloved country, Kenya, since I started playing. While I did miss this recent opportunity, it was due to personal reasons that require my immediate attention. Please understand that my love for Kenya remains strong, and I will continue to be available to represent our nation once I have resolved my current issues. Those who already know the issue will understand. Thank you all for always supporting and showing concern for my career,” she said.
Bakari Shime, Tanzania's coach since 2019, still vividly remembers their 2-0 loss to Kenya in the regional final at the Azam Sports Complex in Dar es Salaam.
“I still remember what happened here in 2019. Last time, we lost the cup to Kenya here in our backyard,” Shime recalls.
“The tournament was a valuable learning experience. Now we know our areas of improvement and our reinforcing strengths. We won three out of four matches without conceding a goal, but a disappointing cheap goal was conceded in the final match, but it is part of football,” Odemba explained.
Tanzania were also using the tournament to prepare for the delayed 2024 Wafcon tournament in Morocco, which will be played from July 5 to 26.
Tanzania will make a second straight appearance in the tournament. Kenya on the other hand last qualified for Wafcon nine years ago. Kenya will play Gambia in the final qualification round on October 20, and the return leg eight days later.
The aggregate winner automatically qualifies for 2026 Wafcon. Kenya secured this round after a 1-0 aggregate victory over Tunisia in March.